There are as many suggested ways to repel deer and rabbits as there are baby bunnies in my neighborhood. Physical barriers (fences) are probably the only sure-fire way to keep critters out of your railroad, but are expensive, often impractical, and usually unsightly. Next in order of effectiveness is to use plants that are less […]
Magazine: Garden Railways
Trainfest is right around the corner
Trainfest is right around the corner That’s right, America’s largest operating train show is just two weekends away. The show, perfect for all ages, will be held November 12th and 13th at the Wisconsin State Fair Park. Hundreds of booths, including manufacturers and retailers, will be featured throughout the weekend. Come enjoy a variety of […]
Rolling by on the hill
Name: Ray Wheeler Railroad Name: Jericho & Mt Zion Railway Location: Lynnwood, WA Scale: large scale Theme: Tourist railroad with freight operations in the modern era. Description: “Rollin’ By on the Hill” – J&MtZ trains rolling by on the 3% grade at Laurel Jct. Music from YouTube Sound, “Everything Where It Needs To Be” by […]
Midday Modeler — 10-26-2022 — live from the Workshop
In this episode of Midday Modeler — 10-26-22 David Popp and co-host Hal Miller, invite a few folks from the Editorial staff to show off their best railroading/model railroading finds. Plus, a special announcement about the upcoming new Trains.com Video platform. Midday Modeler is a new, regular video segment, recorded on-site and unscripted from Kalmbach […]
Top Point white cedar
Top Point white cedar tree Common name: Top Point white cedar Latin name: Chamaecyparis thyoides ‘Top Point’ Plant type: dwarf conifer Plant size: 4-5′ at maturity USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9 Cultural needs: Moist or average, slightly acidic soil; full sun Classics among railway forest trees are the many, dwarf varieties of Chamaecyparis thyoides, the native […]
Keep garden railroad buildings dry
It is difficult to keep garden railroad buildings dry. We have all spent hours constructing fine models of buildings for our railroads. Depending on your climate, they are not out long before they start to decay. More and more modelers are turning to plastic composite materials to build with, but certain plastic materials can be […]
Remove leaf debris from trestles to keep trains running
In the fall, it seems all I do is remove leaf debris from trestles. If you have trestles on your railroad, you have probably noticed how they can become excellent leaf traps. Most of my main line is located under trees, and as a result I get piles of leaves. Often, I need to use […]
Meet James Royal
Meet James Royal How did you get started in the hobby? I got started with my Dad back in the 1950s. He had a modular Lionel O scale layout in our attic with a Santa Fe Super Chief AB set with freight cars that was about 8 x 24 feet and included several operating accessories […]
Realistic operations on a raised railroad
Realistic operations on a raised railroad: In my first garden railroad, (see Garden Railways May-June 1990), The Great Lakes and Gazebo Railroad, the objective was to add interest to my garden, have fun around the pool, and engage my kids in a new way to play with Dad. My new chapter had to include a […]
Five ways to make durable signs for your structures
We share five ways to make durable signs for your large-scale structures. Methods include using decals, vinyl stencils, styrene and magnets, and more. Weathered enamel signs Here’s an easy way to simulate old, rusting enamel signs. First, invent and print the sign, or take a photo of a real one. Print the image on glossy […]
What my garden railroad taught me
What my garden railroad taught me: Our first garden line, The Johnsville & Cripple Creek, was complete – as these things go. We moved. I looked forward to starting over. Construction on the Hitchcock Railway began a few months after moving in – and continued for more than 10 years. When NMRA National Convention visitors […]
Large scale Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe double-sheathed caboose
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe double-sheathed caboose Scale: Large scale (1:24) Price: $104.99 Manufacturer: PIKO America, LLC, 4610 Alvarado Canyon Rd., Ste. 5, San Diego, CA 92120; piko-america.com Caboose features: Molded sheathing with woodgrain detail Factory-applied brake wheel, brake cylinder, piping, smokejack, running boards, ladders, and stirrup steps Plastic wheelsets Hook-and-loop couplers Minimum recommend radius, 23.6” […]